re: Accountants fees skyrocketing

Things are more complex. There are less and less CPAs and accountants who want to deal with taxes, along with increase in tax software and wages for staff means prices are going up.

For years CPAs ate a bunch of their time, from talking to a few firms, those firms have enough work that they are starting to charge you what it takes to complete your return. If you don’t like it, ask them if there is a way to lower your fee (maybe your organize better, have better records, etc) or do it yourself.